Improvement in breech-loading ordnance



E. H. TOBEY.

Breech- Loading Ordnance.

Patented Dec. 28, 1869.

ELISHA H TOBEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Letters Patent N 98,316, dated December 28, 1 869.

IM PROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING- ORDNANCE.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

1'0 all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, ELISHA H. TOBEY, of Ohicago, in the county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and improved Breech-Loading Cannon; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains, to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forniin g part of this specification, in which-'- Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved breechloading cannon, and

Figure 2, a longitudinal section of the same, in the line at x, fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

My invention has for its object to improve the construction of breech-loading cannon, whereby they can be loaded and discharged with greater facility and accuracy than is now the case. 1

Myinvention consists, first, in the combination 0 a swinging breech with thcgun, in such a manner that theweight thereof shall tend to form a gas-tight joint when the gun is ready for firing.

It consists, secondly, in the combination of suitable -weights with the breech-piece and the arms which connect the same to thetrunnions, whereby said breech-piece is balanced upon the truunions, to facilitate its operation.

In the accompanying drawings- A is the main portion of the gun, provided with trunnions, B, in the usual manner.

O is the breech-piece, which is formed bycutting off the breech of the gun in the arc of a circle, having its radius below the major axis of the gun; or the line of separation may extend diagonally across the breech. It should, however, have such direction, that the breech, in closing, shall form a tight joint.

The breech-piece is formed of the size of an ordinary gun-breech, for the purpose of giving suificient weight to eflectually close the breech against the possibility of the escape of gas, should the same pass to the rear of the piston when the gun is discharged.

If desired, the main portion of the gun and the breech-piece may be cast separately.

D are arms, attached, at one end, rigidly to the breech-piece, and hung upon thetrunnions B, in such a manner as to permit the breech-piece to be swung up into the position shown in fig. 2.

In order to facilitate the throwing up of the breechpiece, it may be balanced upon the trunnions D, by

. means of Weights E, attached to or formed upon the free ends 'of the arms D. This arrangement, however, is not absolutelyessential to the successful working of the gun.

I! is .a piston, formed upon the inner end of a screw, G, extending longitudinally through the breech-piece, and provided upon its outer end with a head, H, and handles I.

The inner end of the breech-piece is recessed, to re-' ceive the .piston E, which recess corresponds to that formed in the rear end of the main portion A, of the gun.

The operation is as follows:

When it is desired to charge the gun, the piston is withdrawn, (by operating the screw G1,) within the recess in the hrebch-piece,.and the latter thrown up, as shown in fig. l.

The charge is then inserted in the end of the main portion A, the breech-piece thrown down, and. the

screw G operated to force the piston within the recess formed in said portion. In this position, the part A and breech-piece are firmly locked together, whilethe piston acts as a recoil-block.

It is necessary that the piston should fit snugly within the recess formed in-the part A, toprcvent the escape rearward of the gases generated by the explosion of the charge.

My improved cannon is easily operated, is strong and durable, and embraces no complicated machinery, which is liable to be disarranged by the discharge of the gun, or other causes incident to the use of heavy 2. The weights E, incombination, with the breechpiece 0 and arms D, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

The above specification signed by me, this 4th day of September, 1869.

' ELISHA H. TOBEY.

Witnesses:

A. Bnnnsrnrn', JOHN A. SILENCE. 

